MAOMA, West Kwaio, Malaita Province – A Tourism in Business team from Australia recently visited Maoma Tribal Centre in West Kwaio to conduct a short awareness program regarding a proposed tourism development project for the Maoma Tribal Centre Association.
The visiting team shared information about potential funding support and explained that assistance would depend on whether the proposed project meets their funding requirements.
The initiative is expected to work in partnership with Tourism Solomons to strengthen cultural tourism in the region.
Chairman Aloysius Odofia, speaking on behalf of the committee, chiefs and community members, outlined Maoma’s development plan for the project.
“Our plan is to allocate 200 square meters of land for the project area,” Odofia said. “We would like to include stone walls, visitor accommodation, and a designated cultural area for our chiefs.”
He further explained that the community hopes the project will also include essential facilities such as toilets, proper lighting, and water supply to support visitors and improve standards at the centre.
Chiefs from the area attended the awareness program, showing strong traditional leadership support for the initiative.
The visit provided an opportunity for open discussion between the tourism team and local leaders about how the project could benefit the community socially and economically.
Odofia expressed his gratitude to the visiting team for taking the time to travel to West Kwaio and present the proposal.
“We are very thankful for their visit today. Together with our chiefs, we are happy and appreciate their effort to come and share this opportunity with us,” he said.
If approved, the project is expected to strengthen cultural preservation while creating new opportunities for community-based tourism development in Maoma and the wider West Kwaio area.
By Lesley Foinagwa
West Kwaio Stringer
